Since people with type I diabetes do not make insulin, which is necessary to maintain life, they must take insulin shots every day. Insulin cannot be taken in pill form. Some people with type II diabetes, who make insulin but can't use it effectively, may also be helped by taking insulin.
The goal of insulin treatment is to keep blood sugar as close to normal levels as possible throughout the day. So the amount of insulin needed and the number of times per day it is taken will vary according to each person's unique needs. Some of the factors that determine the amount and timing of insulin doses are body weight and build, level of physical activity, daily food intake, other medications being taken, general health and emotional state. Most people need at least two insulin shots per day, and some need more than one kind of insulin.
When a person first begins taking insulin, schedule and/or dose changes are made until optimal blood sugar control is achieved. So it is important for a person with diabetes to keep in regular touch with his or her doctor.
Each insulin box is marked with an expiration date, which should be checked before purchase. Always be sure to check not only the expiration date but the species, brand name, type and concentration of the insulin to be sure you are getting what your doctor has prescribed. And be sure you will use the entire bottle of insulin before it expires. Using the wrong insulin, or using insulin that has passed its expiration date, can affect your diabetes control.
The syringes used for your insulin injections must match the concentration of the insulin. If you use U-100 insulin, use syringes that have orange tops and that come in packages marked U-100. Be sure you buy syringes that hold your full dose of insulin.
Regular insulin should be clear, with no color, cloudiness or thickening. All other insulins should have an even, cloudy appearance after gentle shaking, like skim milk. They should have no insulin at the bottom of the bottle, no clumps in the liquid or on the bottom and no solid particles that give the bottle a frosty look.
Make sure to look at insulin carefully before using it-if it doesn't look right, it may not work correctly.
Store the insulin bottle you are using, as well as extra bottles, in the refrigerator; do not allow them to freeze. Insulin should not be shaken hard or tossed around.
Unrefrigerated insulin should be kept as cool as possible (below 86 degrees F) and away from heat and light. It should not be left in a parked car. When traveling by plane, keep your insulin and syringes in a carry-on bag to avoid having it get lost. (Insulin packed in bags that are checked may freeze in the cargo section of a plane, leading to loss of efficacy.
The insulin injected gets into your blood faster from some areas than from others, which can have an effect on your blood sugar. Talk to your doctor for more information about sites and about any adjustments you need to make for the various sites you are using.
Clean the rubber stopper on the top of the bottle with an alcohol swab. Then remove the cover from the needle and pull the plunger back to the line that indicates your dosage to pull air into the syringe. Holding the insulin bottle upright, push the needle through the rubber stopper until the tip is in the insulin, then press the plunger to push air into the bottle of insulin.
Turn the bottle and syringe upside down. Hold the bottle with one hand and use the other hand to pull back on the plunger to pull insulin into the syringe, filling it to the line that marks your dosage.
Check the syringe for any air bubbles. If there are bubbles, use the plunger to push the insulin back into the bottle, then slowly pull insulin into the syringe again, repeating until there are no large air bubbles in the syringe. Finally, double-check that your dose level is correct, then pull the needle out of the rubber stopper. If you must lay the syringe down before using it, be sure to cover it for protection. If the insulin is cold, you may want to warm it slightly by rolling the syringe gently between your palms.
Preparing your own mixed dose of insulin requires special instructions, which your doctor will give you if necessary.
Now you are ready to choose your injection site and clean it with an alcohol swab. Then pinch up a large area of skin and push the needle straight into it, ensuring that the needle is all the way in before you push the plunger all the way down. This pushes the insulin into your body.
Pull the needle straight out. Do not rub the injection site.
Safely dispose of your used needles and syringes. Your doctor or pharmacist can offer suggestions for environmentally safe disposal.
If you experience any dents, redness or swelling at your injection sites, or groups of small bumps, similar to hives, check with your doctor:
The goal of insulin treatment is to keep blood sugar as close to normal levels as possible throughout the day. So the amount of insulin needed and the number of times per day it is taken will vary according to each person's unique needs. Some of the factors that determine the amount and timing of insulin doses are body weight and build, level of physical activity, daily food intake, other medications being taken, general health and emotional state. Most people need at least two insulin shots per day, and some need more than one kind of insulin.
When a person first begins taking insulin, schedule and/or dose changes are made until optimal blood sugar control is achieved. So it is important for a person with diabetes to keep in regular touch with his or her doctor.
Insulin Types
Different types of insulin have different action times, or length of time they take to begin acting and length of time their effect lasts. Since people don't all respond the same way to these different types of insulin, people with diabetes must work with their doctor to find the type or types that work best for them.- Ultra Short-Acting Insulin: HUMALOG
- Short-Acting Insulin: Regular (R) and Semilente (r) (S). These preparations start and stop working more quickly than other types of insulin.
- Intermediate-Acting Insulin: NPH (N) and Lente(r) (L). These insulins take longer to start working and work longer than short-acting insulins.
- Long-Acting Insulin: Ultralente(r) (U). This insulin starts acting slowly and last the longest.
- Combination Insulins: 70/30 insulin contains 70 percent NPH and 30 percent Regular insulin, so the Regular begins working quickly, and the NPH takes over when the Regular is stopping. 50/50 insulin has equal parts of the two preparations.
Insulin Purchasing and Care
All insulin bottles sold in the U.S. have orange caps and are marked "U-100," which is referred to as its concentration. They contain 10 milliliters of fluid, with 100 units of insulin in each milliliter, for a total of 1,000 units of insulin per bottle. (U-40 insulin bottles, with red caps, are found in some countries outside the U.S., and U-500 insulin is available by prescription.)Each insulin box is marked with an expiration date, which should be checked before purchase. Always be sure to check not only the expiration date but the species, brand name, type and concentration of the insulin to be sure you are getting what your doctor has prescribed. And be sure you will use the entire bottle of insulin before it expires. Using the wrong insulin, or using insulin that has passed its expiration date, can affect your diabetes control.
The syringes used for your insulin injections must match the concentration of the insulin. If you use U-100 insulin, use syringes that have orange tops and that come in packages marked U-100. Be sure you buy syringes that hold your full dose of insulin.
Regular insulin should be clear, with no color, cloudiness or thickening. All other insulins should have an even, cloudy appearance after gentle shaking, like skim milk. They should have no insulin at the bottom of the bottle, no clumps in the liquid or on the bottom and no solid particles that give the bottle a frosty look.
Make sure to look at insulin carefully before using it-if it doesn't look right, it may not work correctly.
Store the insulin bottle you are using, as well as extra bottles, in the refrigerator; do not allow them to freeze. Insulin should not be shaken hard or tossed around.
Unrefrigerated insulin should be kept as cool as possible (below 86 degrees F) and away from heat and light. It should not be left in a parked car. When traveling by plane, keep your insulin and syringes in a carry-on bag to avoid having it get lost. (Insulin packed in bags that are checked may freeze in the cargo section of a plane, leading to loss of efficacy.
Insulin Injection Sites
Insulin injections can be given in a variety of sites on your body, including your thighs, upper arms, buttocks and abdominal area. Within each of these areas, there are many sites that can be used.The insulin injected gets into your blood faster from some areas than from others, which can have an effect on your blood sugar. Talk to your doctor for more information about sites and about any adjustments you need to make for the various sites you are using.
Preparing and Injecting Insulin
Always begin your preparation by washing your hands. To prepare a single insulin dose, gently mix the insulin by rolling the bottle between your palms, turning it over end to end a few times or gently shaking it. If you are using a new bottle, remove the flat colored cap, but not the rubber stopper or metal band under the cap.Clean the rubber stopper on the top of the bottle with an alcohol swab. Then remove the cover from the needle and pull the plunger back to the line that indicates your dosage to pull air into the syringe. Holding the insulin bottle upright, push the needle through the rubber stopper until the tip is in the insulin, then press the plunger to push air into the bottle of insulin.
Turn the bottle and syringe upside down. Hold the bottle with one hand and use the other hand to pull back on the plunger to pull insulin into the syringe, filling it to the line that marks your dosage.
Check the syringe for any air bubbles. If there are bubbles, use the plunger to push the insulin back into the bottle, then slowly pull insulin into the syringe again, repeating until there are no large air bubbles in the syringe. Finally, double-check that your dose level is correct, then pull the needle out of the rubber stopper. If you must lay the syringe down before using it, be sure to cover it for protection. If the insulin is cold, you may want to warm it slightly by rolling the syringe gently between your palms.
Preparing your own mixed dose of insulin requires special instructions, which your doctor will give you if necessary.
Now you are ready to choose your injection site and clean it with an alcohol swab. Then pinch up a large area of skin and push the needle straight into it, ensuring that the needle is all the way in before you push the plunger all the way down. This pushes the insulin into your body.
Pull the needle straight out. Do not rub the injection site.
Safely dispose of your used needles and syringes. Your doctor or pharmacist can offer suggestions for environmentally safe disposal.
Allergic Reactions
All insulins have added ingredients to prevent spoilage and to prevent bacteria from forming, and, in some insulins, to prolong their action times. Sometimes, people can develop allergic reactions to these ingredients.If you experience any dents, redness or swelling at your injection sites, or groups of small bumps, similar to hives, check with your doctor:
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